Everyone Needs an Anchor
I grew up sailing the San Juans with my family. As an adult, sailing feels classic and romantic, but as kids, all we wanted was a powerboat. Sailboats are slow—really slow. Just getting to the islands took hours, let alone traveling between them. The docks in the San Juans are small and usually full, but tying up made everything easier for our family of six plus a dog on a 24-foot sailboat. If the dock was full, we had to tie off to a mooring buoy and row to shore. Occasionally, even the buoys were full, leaving us no choice but to anchor.
Technically, an anchor is usually a heavy object attached to a ship by a chain or rope. There several different kinds of anchors, all with strange names like “Danforth” or “Bruce”. Regardless of type, when dropped into the water, most anchors dig into the seabed to keep the ship from drifting due to wind or currents. Most people assume that all an anchor does is provide stability and security by holding the vessel in place.
Surprisingly, ships use anchors in several different ways, each serving a distinct purpose:
Stopping for Security – Anchors hold a ship in place, preventing it from drifting due to currents or winds. The anchor ensures stability in a fixed location, often a place of rest, grounding us in safety.
Steadying in Storms – Anchors are sometimes deployed in rough waters as a means to wait out a passing storm. Ships may use an anchor to reduce excessive movement in an unexpected squall. The anchor serves to them from being tossed or shaken uncontrollably by waves.
Slowing for Safety – A sea anchor (or drogue) is sometimes deployed to create drag, helping a ship slow down in turbulent conditions or maintain direction and controlled progress so as to not be overpowered by the wind.
Shifting with Strategy – Some ships use an anchor to assist in maneuvering, pulling themselves toward a desired position rather than drifting aimlessly. The anchor provides added force to help movement in a direction.
It goes without saying that if a ship does not have an anchor, it can drift uncontrollably due to wind, currents, or tides. This can lead to the ship running aground, colliding with other vessels, or being carried off course.
Outside of the nautical world, anchors serve as a powerful metaphor for stability and grounding, representing the people, beliefs, or experiences that keep us steady amid life’s uncertainties. Without an anchor in life, we can feel lost or adrift, easily swayed by circumstances, emotions, or outside influences. Without the stability or direction an anchor can bring, life’s challenges may cause us to lose our sense of purpose, security, or even belonging. An anchor—whether in the form of relationships, values, or faith—helps keep us grounded through life's challenges and give us IDENTITY.
The anchor that is supposed to serve as our core identity is that of a Christian. Today the word is so hackneyed that countless people label themselves “Christian” making it difficult to discern what they actually mean. More than likely, the anchor that truly “holds” them and gives them a sense of grounding is some sort of “ISM”: moralism, legalism, activism, traditionalism, nationalism, pietism, fundamentalism, consumerism, etc. Even though these “ISMs” have little to do with biblical Christianity, many Christians identify with them. Unfortunately, everyone of these anchors fail to stop us, steady us, slow us down, or help us change direction when the real storms of life hit hard.
It’s a wonder why we even use the “Christian” label at all. Historically, the term "Christian" was likely used pejoratively at first. When it appears in Acts 11:26, it is not a name the disciples gave themselves but rather one that outsiders in Antioch used to label them. The suffix "-ian" (like in "Herodian" or "Caesarian") often implied belonging to a party or following a leader—so "Christian" essentially meant "followers of Christ" or "little Christs." Many scholars believe it was meant as a mocking or dismissive term, suggesting that these people were fanatically devoted to Jesus. This is supported by the second usage in Acts 26:28, where King Agrippa seems to use the term skeptically when responding to Paul. By the time of 1 Peter 4:16, the apostle encourages believers to embrace the name despite suffering, which implies that it carried some stigma or ridicule. However, Christians eventually reclaimed the term as a badge of honor, and it became their primary identity.
When the storms of life strike us, whether it be something as big as tragedy or as small as indecision, knowing I am a “Christian” doesn’t seem to eery really help. Usually, depending on the “ISM” that truly serves as my anchor, I find myself in a place of pride or despair. In other words, I am either leaning on an anchor that is sure to fail and make things even worse (but I don’t know it yet) or it already has lost its mooring an I’m floating aimlessly—either way a “shipwreck of my faith” is coming soon! I would humbly suggest we adopt new anchors that can serve help us remain secure and safe as we move forward.
Before you freak out and assume I’m inviting people to “deconstruct” or worse, know that you do not have to look outside the Bible to find these identities. On the contrary, arguably they are more prolific than the one (e.g. Christian) that we typically use:
1. Son (Faith) – Anchored in Relationship with God
A man’s primary identity is as a son of God, rooted in faith and grace. Before he is anything else, he is known, loved, and redeemed by his Heavenly Father. This relationship is the foundation of his life, shaping his character, purpose, and eternal hope. A son does not earn his place—he receives it. His faith is not just belief but a deep trust in the Father’s goodness, even in hardship. His security comes not from his own strength, but from the unshakable love of God. Hebrews 6:19 (ESV) – "We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain."
2. Man (Builder & Provider) – Anchored in Purpose
As a man, he is called to build, create, and provide—both physically and spiritually. He carries responsibility, working diligently to cultivate goodness in his family, work, and community. He is not merely a consumer but a contributor, shaping the world around him through integrity, wisdom, and perseverance. He leads not with dominance but with sacrificial strength, knowing his work is ultimately an act of worship. Genesis 2:15 (ESV) – "The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it."
3. Brother (Community) – Anchored in Relationships
A man is not meant to walk alone—he is a brother to those around him, building deep, meaningful relationships in his community. Brotherhood is about accountability, encouragement, and shared strength. He walks alongside others, lifting them up in times of weakness and receiving support in return. He stands firm against isolation and pride, knowing that iron sharpens iron. True manhood is tested in how well he loves and serves his brothers. Proverbs 27:17 (ESV) – "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another."
4. Ambassador (Missionary) – Anchored in Mission
A man is called to represent Christ wherever he goes, living as an ambassador of the Kingdom of God. His mission is not just to succeed in worldly terms but to bring light into darkness, truth into confusion, and love into brokenness. Whether in his home, workplace, or community, he carries the name of Jesus with humility and boldness. His life is not just about personal gain but about pointing others to the hope of the gospel.
2 Corinthians 5:20 (ESV) – "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God."
These four identities—Son, Man, Brother, and Ambassador—serve as anchors in a man’s life, keeping him steady in faith, purpose, relationships, and mission. They help ground us, steady us, slow us down, and even change direction. It take more time to unpack each of these identities, however, unpacking each of these identities offers man a solid answer to the question: WHO AM I?
You may not always be a (FILL IN THE BLANK) but You are always a son of the King. You are always a man of God. You are always a brother in Christ. You are always an ambassador to the world. The pursuit of this question sends men on all kinds of adventures in the wrong direction because they sail without anchors or with those the world offers. These biblical anchors help us navigate the storms of life and ensure we won’t be tossed to and fro by the ever-changing waves of culture.
Anchors are different than masts but they work together. Anchors are more about identity while masts are about calling. More on that later…
